Official Records of the Rebellion

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No. 4.

Reports of Brig. Gen. Daniel P. Woodbury, U. S. Army, commanding Engineer Brigade, of operations from May 18 to June 30.

HEADQUARTERS ENGINEER BRIGADE,
Camp, New Bridge, Va., May 29, 1862.

GENERAL: Pursuant to your circular of May 21, requiring reports of the operations of the Engineer Brigade, I have the honor to render the following report of the operations of the Fifteenth and Fiftieth Regiments, composing Engineer Brigade, since its arrival at White House Point, May 18.

The Fifteenth Regiment was divided into three detachments, assigned to Captains Perry, Ketchum, and Chester, respectively. Captain Perry’s detachment was assigned the duty of collecting the canal barges loaded with engineer property at White House, fitting out pontoon trains, &c. A train of thirty-four pontoon-boats, with their accessories for the construction of a bridge, each boat containing the materials for one bay, was fitted out and securely anchored, ready for immediate use, and the extra pontoon-boats safely moored. Captain Perry, with his detachment, rejoined his regiment at Cold Harbor on the 25th instant. The second detachment, under Captain Ketchum, was assigned the duty of repairing roads and bridges on common roads. I condense from his daily reports as follows:

May 19.—Monday night built bridge where the main road from White House crosses Black Creek. Single span 26 feet; five 10-inch stringers; covering, 2 and 3 inch plank.

May 20.—Corduroyed 1,000 feetof road about 1 mile west of Black Creek. The same afternoon took up and rebuilt bridge over Mill Creek at the grist-mill. Two spans 18 and 20 feet; roadway, 12 feet; four pine stringers, 9 inches; covering, 2-inch oak plank.

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May 21.—Overtook the advance; reported to General Franklin; received instructions from him to go ahead on New Bridge road. Went on and encamped about 1,000 feet inside our pickets; unable to get to the site of New Bridge on account of presence of the enemy on north side of the river.

May 22.—Unable still to take any measurement of the bridge, which condition of things continued until Sunday.

May 25.—Took measurement and commenced framing bridge.

May 26.—Completed framing of bridge.

May 27.—Getting out saw-logs to be cut into plank for covering bridge. Engaged all night in hauling timber to site of bridge.

May 28.—Finished hauling timbers and plank to site of bridge after night.

May 29.—Took possession of saw-mill; got out timber for permanent bridges. Length of bridge over the Chickahominy River, known as New Bridge, 114 feet, with seven spans; 10-inch stringers, four in number; width of roadway, 10 feet.

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